I.gen. plur. obstantum, Sil. 5, 277), 1, v. n., to stand before or against any thing.
I. In gen. (very rare): soli luna obstitit, Enn. ap. Cic. Rep. 1, 16, 25 (Ann. v. 167 Vahl.); cf.: montibus obstipis obstantibus, id. ap. Paul. ex Fest. p. 193 Müll. (Ann. v. 407 ib.): “dominae niveis a vultibus obstas,” Stat. S. 1, 2, 23; so, “summis a postibus,” id. Th. 4, 17: “obviam,” to stand in the way, Plaut. Stich. 2, 1, 14.—
II. In partic., to stand against or in the way of a person or thing; to withstand, thwart, hinder, oppose, obstruct (the class. signif. of the word; syn.: obsisto, adversor, officio).—Constr. with dat., absol., with quin, quominus, cur, or ne.
(α).
With dat.: “quae tardis mora noctibus obstet,” Verg. A. 1, 746: “alicui,” Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 6: cur mihi te offers ac meis commodis officis et obstas? Cic. Rosc. Am. 38, 112; cf. id. ib. 2, 6: “vita cetera eorum huic sceleri obstat,” their former life stands opposed to this crime, secures them against the suspicion of this crime, Sall. C. 52, 31: “di omnes quibus obstitit Ilium,” was an offence to, Verg. A. 6, 64: “nam sic labentibus (aedibus) obstat vilicus,” i. e. keeps from falling, Juv. 3, 194; cf. v. 243.—For the dat. in with acc. is found: “in laudem vetustorum invidia non obstat,” Sen. Ben. 7, 8, 2.—
(β).
Absol.: me obstare, illos obsequi, Enn. ap. Cic. Div. 1, 31, 66: restitant, occurrunt, obstant, id. ap. Non. 147, 9 (Sat. v. 5 ib.): “obstando magis quam pugnando castra tutabantur,” Liv. 40 25: “exercitus hostium duo obstant,” block up the way, Sall. C. 58, 6; Plaut. Trin. 1, 1, 15: “si omnia removentur, quae obstant et impediunt,” Cic. Ac. 2, 7, 19.—
(γ).
With quin: “quibus non humana ulla, neque divina obstant, quin socios amicos trahant, exscindant,” Sall. H. 4, 61, 17 Dietsch.—
(δ).
With quominus: “quid obstat, quominus sit beatus?” Cic. N. D. 1, 34, 95: “ne quid divini humanive obstet, quominus justum piumque de integro ineatur bellum,” Liv. 9, 8, 6.—（ε) With cur: “quid obstat, cur non (verae nuptiae) fiant?” Ter. And. 1, 1, 76.— (ζ) With ne: “Histiaeus Milesius, ne res conficeretur, obstitit,” Nep. Milt. 3, 5: “cum ibi quoque religio obstaret, ne non posset nisi ab consule dici dictator,” Liv. 4, 31, 4: “ne id, quod placebat, decerneret in tantae nobilitatis viris, ambitio obstabat,” id. 5, 36, 9.—
b. Impers. pass.: “nec, si non obstatur, propterea etiam permittitur,” Cic. Phil. 13, 6, 14: “indignatur amans Obstari animae,” Ov. M. 11, 788.—
c. Part. pres. in plur. as subst.: obstantia , ĭum, n.: “obstantia silvarum amoliri,” hinderances, obstructions, Tac. A. 1, 50.
